Bath was formed in 1796 and named in honor of Lady Bath, the only child and heiress of Sir William Pulteney, of London. Various townships were taken off from 1802 through 1839.

Mr. Henry McElwee, a young man from the north of Ireland, came here on New Year's Day, 1794, and gives the following account: "I found a few shanties standing in the woods. Williamson had his house where Will Woods since lived, and the Metcalfs kept a log tavern above the Presbyterian Church. I went to the tavern and asked for supper and lodging. They said they could give me neither for their house was full. I could get nothing to eat. An old Dutchman was sitting there, and he said to me: 'Young man, if you will go with me, you shall have some mush and milk for your supper, and a deerskin to lie on, with your feet to the fire, and another to cover yourself with.'" This offer was thankfully accepted. He accompanied the Dutchman to a little log house which had no floor, made a supper of mush and milk, and slept soundly with his feet to the fire. The trees had been cut away sufficiently to admit the erection of cabins and to open a road.

The first saw and grist mills were erected by Captain Williamson in 1793. Charles Williamson Dunn, born in 1795, was the first male child born in the town. The first tavern was kept by John Metcalf. It was built of pine logs in two apartments, and one story high.